2. BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION
A TRADITION OF GIVING (1997 - 1999)
Bill Gates and Melinda French were raised knowing it’s important to
give back to the community.
“Both the Gates and French families instilled the values of volunteerism
and civic engagement. Our families believed that if life happens to
bless you, you should use those gifts as well and as wisely as you
can.”
3. IT’S FOUNDERS
Bill Gates:
Is an American business magnate, investor, programmer, inventor and philanthropist. He
is the former chief executive and current chairman of Microsoft, the world’s largest
personal-computer software company, which he co-founded with Paul Allen. Gates is
one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution. Gates has
been criticized for his business tactics, which have been considered anti-competitive,
an opinion which has in some cases been upheld by the courts. In the later stages of
his career, Gates has pursued a number of philanthropic endeavours, donating large
amounts of money to various charitable organizations and scientific research
programs through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, established in 2000.
4. HISTORY {HOW THEY STARTED}
Bill and Melinda Gates read an article like this one about millions of children in
poor
countries who die from diseases eliminated long ago in the U.S.They send it to
Bill Sr.
with a note: “Dad, maybe we can do something about this.”
5. WHY DID THEY DO IT?
Bill takes his first trip to India for the foundation, administering oral polio vaccines to
kids. In an interview afterward, he talks about the potential of a world without
polio. Building on the belief that drove their professional careers at Microsoft—that the
power of personal computing could provide a link to knowledge and productivity for
everyone, everywhere—Bill and Melinda Gates launch the Gates Library Foundation
with $200 million to help all U.S. public libraries offer free Internet access. Patty
Stonesifer leads the new foundation.
